Amusement apparatus.



PATENTED JULY l2, 1904.

T. W. EUR. AMUSEE/[ENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

www@ www ma? ,WU j mm @M wi/Zneses UNITED STATES Patented July 12,1904..

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THOMAS IV. FOK, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR T. PRESCOTT, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,800, dated July12,1904.

Application filed May l2, 1904. Serial No. 207,670. (No model.)

T0 (LM w/w'nt it nifty concern:

Bc it known that LTHoMAs W. Eck, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented anImprovement in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying' drawings, is a specification, likeletters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention aims to provide a novel amusement device or apparatus tobe used by a rider of bicycles and the like.

Prior to my invention what is known as the bicycle whirl has beendevised and used consisting' of a generally conical and sometimes inpart cylindrical inclosure, usually of upright slats, in which theoperator rides the bicycle in a circle, gradually climbing the sides ofthe whirl until he is riding around with hisbody and machine nearly orquite in a horizontal plane, centrifugal force keeping him in position.

My present invention relates generally to an apparatus used in thismanner and comprehends a spherical hollow whirl or cage within which therider visibly operates or performs. These, with other features of myinvention, will be better understood from a description of an apparatusillustrating one embodiment thereof, it being understood, however, thatmy invention is not limited to the particular embodiment here to bedescribed.

In the drawings, Figure l in elevation illustrates generally anapparatus containing one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailview of one of the sections of which the apparatus is composed, and Fig.3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

In the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustrationherein and shown in the drawings a spherical whirl is indicated, at A,the same being constructed from desired materials and in desired mannerto enable a bicycle rider to perform within while at the same timevisible more or less distinctly from Without.

Referring more particularly to the details of construction, I providethe top and bottom hub-castings a (d, adapted to receive and support theends of the arc-shaped ribs I). As vherein shown, the bottom hub-castinga' is provided with a series of circularly-arrangcd eye-plates orperforations c2, with which may be engaged the hooks 7) upon the lowerends of the frames formed by the ribs These frames so engaged or hookedat their lower ends have their upper also hooked ends b2 broughttogether toward and at the top cast ing a and are there firmly securedin suitable manner, as by passing a contractible band L" around thesame. This band may have a turnbuckle or other device by which it may becontracted, so as to bind together said upper ends b2 firmly upon and inengagement with the said upper casting a. The shuttle-like sectionsbetween adjacent ribs are covered or closed in suitable manner, as byordinary woven- Wire fabric, in which the wire may be either round incross-section or in the form of flat metal bands, secured at their endsto the frames or ribs which make up the sections of the riding-surfaceor other foraminous matcrial, but preferably of such material, inconjunction with some transparent covering or filling therefor, such asglass, within which, if desired, the vforaminous material may beembedded, or the covering may consist of a transparent compositionalone, such material being of a strength requisite to support the riderbetween adjacent ribs. Preferably the entire sphere will be divided intohalves along its horizontal plane of greatest circumference, the ribsbeing divided thereat and detachably connected in suitable manner, as bythe clamping devices b3, adjacent ribs at the plane of division beingconnected, respectively, by the cross-pieces 5*, which likewise may besecured one to another by clamping devices 715. By this construction thewhirl as a whole may be erected sectionally, and therefore moreconveniently, and, furthermore, it is made possible to build up thelower hemispherical portion of the Whirl and use the same without theremaining top hemispherical portion thereof. One or more of theshuttle-shaped sections or half-sections c may be temporarily omittedfor the entrance or exit of the performer. However constructed and ofwhatever materials it is possible for the performer riding within thewhirl in a circular path to mount gradually the inclined sides of thewhirl until finally riding at least in the hori- Zontal plane of thedivision-line at 3 of. 1t is even possible that he might rise above thehorizontal plane of greatest circumference of the whirl, especially ifaided by suitable supports from within, which would be invisible fromwithout.

Should occasion require, the whirl may be strengthened eircumferentiallyby bands or hoops o encircling the same and resting in depressions oprovided therefor on the ribs, each hoop fitted with a turnbuckle orother means for contracting it, thereby to support the structure againstbursting pressure from within.

This whirl may be either stationary or movable and may be mounted in anydesired fashion. In the form herein shown, however, it is mounted in anupright position within a suitable frame comprising the base m, uprightson', and top m2, the whirl being driven by a chain or belt m3 from anoperating device M, comprising the cranks m'i and meshing gears m5,mounted on the driving-shaft mf. This operating device may be connectedwith the whirl by adjustable means, shown as thJe teleseoping rods m7m8, adjustably held at m'.

The various features of construction of the whirl and the manner ofmounting the same, described and shown but not claimed in thisapplication, forni the subject-matter of my copending application,Serial No. 187,910, filed January 6, 1904.

lt is obvious that many changes may be made in the details and relativearrangement of parts of this invention without departing from the spiritand scope thereof.

I claim- 1. An amusement-whirl comprising ahemispherical riding-surface.

2. An amusement apparatus comprising a completely-inclosed whirlconstructed to permit a performance within to be viewed from without.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising a spherical whirl having aforaminous wall.

4. An amusement apparatus comprising a spherical whirl having awire-netting wall.

5. An amusement apparatus comprising a spherical whirl, the walls ofwhich are construeted to permit a performance within the whirl to beviewed from without.

6. An amusement apparatus having a whirl presenting a sphericalriding-surface constructed to permit a performance within the whirl tobe viewed from without, said surface to this end comprising transparentmaterial.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS W. ECK.

lfitnesses:

H. C. TUXBURY, R. C. POWELL.

